Written Answers

Tuesday 15 August 2000

Scottish Executive

Voluntary Organisations

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what process and timetable is set by it for grant allocation to voluntary organisations and charities and in particular what the process is, including closing dates applied to different parts of the timetable, for grant allocation in 2000-01.

Jackie Baillie: A Guide to Scottish Executive Grants for the Voluntary Sector was published on 24 July, giving information on Executive schemes for 2001-02. Copies have been placed with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Closing dates for applications to the various schemes do vary, but generally applications have to be received by September or October each year in order that grant offers can be sent out well in advance of the start of the funding year.

  The Executive published The Scottish Compact Good Practice Guides, including one on funding, to its departments, agencies, and NDPBs on 13 June. We are now conducting a strategic review of Executive funding for the voluntary sector and we will be looking at ways of harmonising scheme procedures and minimising bureaucracy.

Voluntary Organisations

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are set for the award of grants by it to voluntary organisations and charities and whether these vary from year to year.

Jackie Baillie: A Guide to Scottish Executive Grants for the Voluntary Sector was published on 24 July, giving information on Executive schemes for 2001-02, including information on the criteria for each scheme. Copies have been placed with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

  The Executive is committed to a strategic approach to its funding of the voluntary sector. The Executive published The Scottish Compact Good Practice Guides to its departments, agencies, and NDPBs on 13 June. The Good Practice Guide on funding sets out general criteria for Scottish Executive funding of voluntary organisations. Copies have been placed with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Voluntary Organisations

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the voluntary organisations and charities to which it has allocated grants in 2000-01 and what amount of grant was applied for and awarded in each case.

Jackie Baillie: The Executive is developing a database of direct and indirect grants to voluntary organisations. A copy of the database will be sent to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre as soon as possible and I will write to the member to inform her when this has been done.